June 13th 2025.
When it comes to comparing nations, it's important to acknowledge both their strengths and their weaknesses. This is especially true for Israel and Iran, who have both recently made moves that could have a significant impact on the Middle East. Israel's recent attacks on Iran's military and nuclear facilities have been described as a "declaration of war" by Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who called for the United Nations to take immediate action. In response, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has vowed to deliver "severe punishment".
With both nations on war footing, many are curious about how their militaries stack up against each other. According to the Global Firepower index, which ranks the strength and capabilities of every military in the world, Iran was previously ranked higher than Israel, but has since dropped to number 16 while Israel has climbed to 15. It's worth noting that the US, Russia, and China hold the top three spots on this index.
One area where Iran still has the upper hand is in manpower. With a population nearly ten times larger than Israel's, Iran has a significantly larger pool of potential soldiers. This is reflected in their armies, with Iran having over 600,000 active personnel compared to Israel's significantly lower number.
In terms of defense spending, Israel far outspends Iran, with their budget estimated at £22 million compared to Iran's £11 million. However, it's important to note that Iran does not rely as heavily on state funds for their military, with a significant portion of their budget coming from the military establishment's control of various businesses and the underground economy.
When it comes to weapons, both nations have significant arsenals at their disposal. Israel has had nuclear weapons since the 1960s, though they have never officially acknowledged it. The Nuclear Threat Initiative estimates that Israel has 90 nuclear warheads and enough nuclear material to make up to 300. Iran also has the capability to build nuclear weapons, which is one of the reasons cited for Israel's recent attacks.
In terms of missiles, Iran has a significant advantage over Israel with a large stockpile that includes anti-ship and cruise missiles as well as ballistic missiles with ranges of up to 1,200 miles. Iran's short and medium-range missile system is considered the most developed in the region. This is often showcased during military parades and has even been utilized by Russia in their war in Ukraine.
On land and in the air, both nations have their strengths. While Iran has more tanks than Israel, their fleet consists mostly of older models that are not as advanced as Israel's. In terms of aircraft, Israel has a slight advantage with more modern fighter jets. However, when it comes to geography, this may not matter as much. With a distance of over 1,000 miles between Jerusalem and Tehran, both nations would rely heavily on aviation and missiles in a conflict.
In the end, it's difficult to say for certain how these two nations would fare against each other in a military conflict. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, and it's likely that any confrontation would involve long-distance exchanges rather than traditional warfare. As one expert put it, "a conflict would not take the form of a classic war, but would rather be an exchange of blows over long distances."
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